Race-starting gate



`Iuly 4, 1933. E 1 HEALY 1,916,951

RACE START ING GATE Filed Dec. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 91 MVM/Qimmy Juy 4, 1933. E, HEALY 1,916,951

RACE STARTING GATE y Filed Deo. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Tf Snvcnior E Jealg/ Patented `lilly 4, 1933 lantaarn"v PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. HEALY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND RACE-STARTING GATE Application filed December The present invention relates to race-start ing gates, and particularly to gates lhaving' a plurality of spaced partitions torming stalls for the horses at the start of the race, and arranged to permit the removal of the partitions to clear the race track after the race has begun.

1t is now considered desirable by the managers of race tracks that the horses be .separated from each other by spaced partitions 'forming stalls while they are being alined before the starting tape or other barrier. The partitions must be high enough and long enough to prevent a restive or unruly horse from kickingthe horses in contiguous stalls. They must also be high enough to make it dithcult for one jockey to interfere with an-V other, or with the mount of another while waiting 'for the starting signal.

While it is agreed that stalls used in conjunction with a starting tape, save time in the positioning'of the animals before the tape and have the advantages mentioned yet they not been generally adopted. One serious disadvantage lies in that there is always the possibility of a restive horse unmounting and seriously injuring its jockey by brushing him against the wall of the stall when it swerves and plunges forward at the start of the race. Another disadvantage is that the coniining walls of the stalls atleet horses accustomed to starting on tracks tree otsuch obstructions in training and in competition, and cause them to hesitate for a moment or ecome balky and unruly when the signal to start is given.

The principal object ot my invention is to remove the disadvantages mentioned by providing starting gate with partitions arranged to recede rearwardly and upwardly at a high speed so that they may practically disappear trom the horses line of vision simultaneously with the releasing of the starting tape, or with the sounding of the starting gong. My invention thus aiiords substantially ir Y e field starting conditions, and removes 'from the mind of the jockey the dread oi' being unmounted in starting.

@n many race tracks the horses must pass the starting point several times in the course of a long race. Another important object of my invention is to provide a gate ot which the patrition are swung above the track at starting so that it will not be necessary to remove the structure from the fairway when 5, 1929. Serial No. 411,908.

the length oit the race necessitates passing the starting point several times in the course of the race.

My invention contemplates the use of a portable structure that may be moved on rails to various points on the track. It contemplates a lstructure wide enough to support stalls capable of accommodating fifteen or more horses. When such a structure has to be moved, it will be obvious that, because of its inherent flexibility, there is the possibility of its being twisted and de-railed should the two ends ot the structure not move in synchronism. lt is a further object ot my invention to provide means for assuring substantiallysynchronous movement of the two supporting end columns of the structure to prevent twisting and derailment. One of the possible embodiments of my invention is illust-r ted in the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Figure 1 is an elevational view'of my invention as seen from the rear, with parts broken.

y Figure 2 is a wiring diagram of electric circuits employed.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view.

Figure l is a view of certain details with parts in section.

1n the drawings, for convenience of illustration, I have limited the size of the gate to siX stalls, but it will be understood that the gate may be lengthened and equipped with enough stalls to accommodate the usual number of horses starting in a race.

In the drawings, the numeral indicates the supporting end columns of my starting gate. The columns 10 are suitably anchored for support on a carriage 11 on which flanged wheels 12 are suitably journaled for rotation, and the wheels roll on rails 13, laid along the race track, so that the gate may be moved to different starting positions on the track.

The two end columns are tied together by, and support, a beam 14, extending across the race track, and the beam 1li is supported against buckling by tie rods 15, secured to the beam and the end columns. Mounted on the beam 14 are bearing hangers 16 in which a shaft 17 is journaled for rotation. The ends of the shat't extend through the columns and are provided with arms 18 upon which counterweights 19 are secured. Stalls to accommodate the horses are formed of spaced rectangular trames or partitions 20 which depend from the shaft 17 by the arms 21. The arms and the frames are padded to protect the jockeys and t-heir mounts againstk injury through contact with the Walls of the stalls, but for the sake of clearness in the drawings, padding has not been shown. A tape to aline the horses may be stretched across the front end of the stalls, and the horses may be walked into the stalls from-the rear side of the gate.

As best shown in Figure 3, the'weight of the frames 2O is counterbalanced by the weights 19 on the arm 18. The shaft 17 is restrained against movement by a dog 22 pivoted on the column 10, entering the teeth of a toothed wheel 23 mounted on the shaft 17. The dog 22 may be disengaged by movement of a connecting rod 25, and a link 26. To ensure quick movement of the shaft 17 and of its connected frames 20 when the dog 22 is disengaged, a spring'27 is connected to the arm 18 and the column 10, and it is in tension when the stalls'are in the starting position. Upon the soundino' of the starting gong, the race starter,bydepress ing lever 24,

releases the shaft'l, and as the horses dart forward the frames 2O start rearwardly and upwardly to clear the track.

It will be readily perceived that the effective speed of the rearwardly movingV stalls will be that considered with reference to a stationary object plus thev speed of the forwardly moving horses. The rate at which the horizontal component of movement of the frame, i. e., thecomponent in line with the body of the horse,di1rninishes because of the angular motion of the frame is also important. It will be obvious thatthe stalls, as

confining means, practically disappear out of the sight of the' jockeys and the horses simultane'o'usly with the sounding of the startingL gonfr. The men and animals, therefore, start of as though they were on a track clear of all obstructions.

The lever 24 and its connectedrod 25 may be so associated with the starting gong and the' alining tape that the depressing 'of' the lever will simultaneously sound the gong, release the tape, and'release the shaft 17.

While I have shown the arm 21 swung to the horizontalposition after the horses have started, it will be obvious that I may readily alter the shape of thearm and of the frame, and the manner of mounting the counterbalancing weights, so that the` frame may swing to lie transversely'across the beam 14.

On the shorter race tracks, the horses must pass the starting point several ytimes in the course of along race. Mv invention provides means for swinging the stallsA above the track that the'horses and-riders may pass underr them, and vtheV track is cleared with no more effort fthan that necessary to depress the lever 24.y i 1 It is'often desirable that the starting gate be moved to several different positions along the race track. I have arranged my gate so that it may bereadily moved onrails laid on beth sides of the track. Because of the necessarily great length of the transversely extending beam 14 the whole structure is inherently flexible and subject to twisting and derailcured to the rail 13.

' The motors are connected in series, and ceive energy from a storage battery 31, which may besuitably mounted on a platform secured to the column 10. A controller 33, including the usual switch and rheostat means. is mounted on the platform 32 for controlling the motors. The arrangement described ensures substantially synchronous movement of the two carriages, particularly at starting when the inertia of the structure has to be overcome. I have shown but a. relatively short length of toothed rack secured to the rail to ensure positive traction, y'ithout slip, while the structure is being accelerated, but it is obvious that the rack may be laid coextensive with the rails to ensure positive traction at all times.

rlhe race starter may stand on the platform within easy reach'of the shaft releasing lever 24.-; and thestarting 'gong and the means for releasing the starting barrier may be conveniently located on the column 10.

It -is well known that when a horse is being walked up to the stalls it is more manageable, less restless, than when it is compelled to wait in the stall for the starting signal. It l will be obvious that my starting gate maj.7 be slowly advanced valong the track so that the horses may be walked while in the stalls, and Whe-n the sta-rter, who is carried along with the gate, iinds that they are in alinement before the barrier, he can then simultaneously sound the gong, yrelease the barrier, and release the stall partitions to move rearwardly and upwardly out of the line of vision of the horses. The horses will be in motion and under control when the gong is sounded, and false starts caused by rearing and kicking and side-plunging are avoided. 4 In order' to enable the milling throng at the race course to readily determine the position of the stationary gate on the track, l have provided light signals 34; mounted on the column 10. f

I am aware that manv changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of tl is invention, and I, therefore, do not purp )se linnting the patent `granted hereon, other wise than necessitated by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. A starting gate for race tracks, comprising means for separating the horses while they are in starting position on the track, and means operable upon the start of the race for moving the said separating means out of position on the track in a direction out of the path of the horses vision and to thereby leave the track unobstructed so that the horses may re-pass through the gate in the course of a race.

2. A starting gate for race tracks comprisine' a member supported to extend transversely over the rack track, a plurality of spaced partitions mounted turnable on and depending from the member to accommodate iorses in starting position on the track, and means arranged to impel the partitions in al direction opposite to that of the horses when they are in motion in a race, and to leave the track unobstructed so that the horses may repass through the gate in the course of a race.

3. In a starting gate for race tracks including a shaft rotatably supported to extend transversely over the race track, a plurality of spaced partitions secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and depending therefrom to provide stalls to accommodate horses in starting position on the track, and means arranged to rotate the shaft to impel the partitions in a direction opposite to that of the horses when they are in motion in a race.

4. In a starting gate for race tracks including a shaft rotatably supported to extend across the race track, a plurality of spaced partitions secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and depending therefrom to provide stalls to accommodate horses in starting position on the track, a forwardly extending arm secured on the shaft, counterweights mount-ed on the arm to rotate the shaft whereby to impel the said partitions rearwardly and upwardly, means to restrain the said shaft against movement, and means to release t-he said restraining means. Y

5. In a starting gate for race tracks including a shaft rotatably supported to extend across the race track, a plurality of spaced partitions secured to the shaft fo-r rotation therewith and depending therefrom to provide stalls to accommodate horses in the starting position on the track, a forwardly extending arm secured on the shaft, tensioned spring means in operative association with the arm to impel the arm downwardly and so rotate` the shaft whereby to impel the said partitions rearwardly and upwardly, means to restrain the shaft against rotation, and means to release the said restraining means.

6. In a. starting gate for race tracks, in-

cluding a revolvable shaft supported to extend across the track, a plurality of rearwardly extending partitions secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and depending from the shaft to provide stalls to accommodate horses in the starting position on the track, a forwardly extending arm secured to the shaft, counterweights mounted on the arm, a toothed member secured on the shaft, a pivoted dog adapted to enter the teeth in the toothed member to restrain the shaft against rotation, and means adapted to disengage the dog. l

7. In a starting gate for race tracks, rails positioned on both sides of the track, a starting gate mounted for movement on the rails and including spaced upwardly extending means supporting a rotatable shaft extending across the track, a plurality of spaced partitions secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and depending from the shaft to provide stalls to accommodate horses in the starting position on the track, power means on the gate arranged to impart motion to the gate along the rails, and means arranged to rotate the shaft to impel the said partitions in a direction opposite to that in which the horses move in the course of a race.

8. In a starting gate for race tracks, means for separating horses while they are being alined in starting position on the track, the said means being arranged for forward motion on the track while the horses are being alined, and means operable at the start of the race for moving the said separating means rearwardly and upwardly to leave the track unobstructed so that the horses may re-pass the starting point in the course of a race.

9. A starting gate for tracks comprising, a member adapted to extend transversely across the track, means swingably mounted on said member for separating horses while they are being alined in starting position on the track, the said member and the said swingable separating means being arranged for forward motion with the horses while they are being alined, and means arranged to impart sudden rearward and upward movement to said swingable means with respect to movement of said member at the start of the race to leave the track unobstructed so that the horses may re-pass through t-he gate in the course of the race.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

EDWARD J. HEALY. 

